Virginia
Virginia Tech Football: Three Storylines for National Signing Day
National Signing Day commences tomorrow and Virginia Tech has seventeen commitments as it stands now. There could always be players that flip from other schools or players that de-commit, so expect that number to change.
In recent history, the Hokies have suffered two major decommitments from four-star recruits. Class of 2026 quarterback Peyton Falzone de-committed from the program within the past week, granted, Falzone will not sign anywhere tomorrow because he is not in the Class of 2026. In September however, four-star wide receiver Matthew Outten de-committed from Virginia Tech and flipped his commitment to Penn State.
So what are the storylines to watch ahead of National Signing Day for Virginia Tech?
Michigan State commit Aydan West and Georgia commit Dennis Ozuchukwu have both visited Virginia Tech within the past month. The Hokies have been known in the past to flip players commitments from other schools and a potential three-star commitment like West or Ozuchukwu could make a big difference in Virginia Tech’s class.
After Robinson’s commitment to Virginia Tech, he has taken official visits to both Virginia and Duke. Robinson could be a candidate to flip on signing day. Robinson’s school does not allow him to graduate early and he is not planning to enroll early. Robinson would make a huge impact at Virginia Tech and he has built relationships with other recruits in the class like Brett Clatterbaugh, AJ Brand, and Micah Matthews.
Kenan is set to announce his commitment tomorrow, and Virginia Tech is on his final list of schools alongside Vanderbilt, Virginia, and NC State. Three different 247Sports analysts have predicted that Kenan will commit to Vanderbilt, but he could always land at Virginia Tech tomorrow.
Additional Links:
Virginia Tech Football: Positions Virginia Tech Should Target in the Transfer Portal
The Briefing: Hokies Clinch Bowl Eligibility After 37-17 Win Over UVA
Virginia Tech Football: 5 Takeaways From Hokies Win Against Virginia
Virginia
Virginia man allegedly attempted to brazenly shoplift from Walmart during holiday ‘Shop with a Cop’ event
If only this real-life Grinch’s brain could grow three sizes.
A Virginia man was arrested after allegedly trying to steal more than $1,000 worth of items from a Walmart — right in front of dozens of cops who were at the store for a holiday event.
A Chesterfield County Walmart was hosting its annual “Shop with a Cop” event where local police partnered with impoverished children to help them pick out gifts for the holidays on Sunday when the would-be bandit struck.
Nearly 50 police officers and sheriff’s deputies were all around the store at the time of the attempted theft, Chesterfield County Police Lt. James Lamb told CBS 6.
But the overwhelming presence of law enforcement didn’t deter 32-year-old Hector Velazquez Maldonado from trying to make off with nearly $1,400 of merchandise, according to police.
Security footage showed Maldonado trying to hide bulks of items on his person as he attempted to leave the store, according to police.
The officers were notified of a shoplifting in process at the very store they were all stationed at and began scouring the floor for the suspect who they quickly found.
“As we approached from different directions, he tried to escape out the back of the store where he was apprehended. I think he was stunned,” Lamb told CBS6.
Officers were dumbfounded that Maldonado had tried to commit the crime even with the clear police presence all around the area.
“We had 30-40 marked patrol cars in the parking lot. When we found his vehicle, it was facing where our cars were parked, so he would have had to see them. It seems it just didn’t matter to him,” Lamb told the station.
Maldonado is a repeat shoplifting offender and had an active warrant out for his arrest for a failure to appear in court along with several open larceny cases in Chesterfield County, officials said.
On top of his open cases, he is now facing a felony charge of grand larceny for his squandered holiday heist, CBS6 reported.
Virginia
Virginia Football Transfer Portal Tracker
The 2024 Virginia football season may be over, but a busy and important offseason started right away for Tony Elliott and his coaching staff, who have much work to do on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal to shape their roster for the 2025 UVA football season.
The NCAA football transfer portal is open from Monday, December 9th through Saturday, December 28th, but that’s just the window for players to enter the portal. There is no deadline for when they have to make their commitments. Players on teams who are playing in bowl games or the College Football Playoff have up until five days after their final game to enter the transfer portal.
Many players announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal before the window actually opens and graduate students can enter at any time. The transfer portal will open again in the spring from April 16th through April 25th.
See below for a list of players who have either announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal or have officially entered the portal, as well as incoming transfers who have announced their commitment to Virginia.
Virginia
Ashes of puppy killed in tragic plane crash brought to deceased pilot's family in Virginia
SPRINGFIELD, Va. – The ashes of a pilot and a puppy killed in a plane crash last month were brought to the pilot’s family in Northern Virginia.
The 5-month-old puppy’s name is Lisa. She was being taken to New York for a second chance at life but sadly, she was killed along with 49-year-old Seuk Kim — the generous volunteer pilot transporting her and two other dogs from Maryland to Albany.
The family of Kim, a father from Springfield, received Lisa’s ashes. They told FOX 5 that since the puppy and pilot tragically died together, it meant a lot to get their ashes reunited.
“It was very emotional. The kids were very strong,” Seuk’s brother Sejin Kim said.
On Sunday, volunteer pilot Chris Moon – a friend of Seuk – flew from Virginia to Albany to bring back the puppy’s ashes.
Kim’s sons were the ones who greeted Moon and received the ashes at Leesburg Executive Airport. It was all made possible by Forever Changed Animal Rescue.
Sejin Kim told FOX 5 that Lisa represented so much of his brother’s passion and commitment to animals as this one flight was one of dozens of volunteer missions.
Virginia father dies in New York plane crash while transporting rescue dogs
“He transported hundreds of dogs to different adoption agencies, being euthanized,” Sejin said. “Since this accident…he changed my mindset. We are getting support from all around the world.”
Seuk was piloting a small aircraft carrying three rescue dogs on Sunday, Nov. 24 when he lost control and crashed into a wooded area about 35 miles from his destination in Albany. NY authorities say there was poor visibility that day.
The two other dogs on board the plane survived the crash and have been getting medical attention
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are still investigating the crash.
Family says a memorial for Seuk is planned for Thursday. They are hoping to bury Lisa next to him.
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